Premier: China to deepen cooperation with Maldives

China is willing to reinforce high-level exchanges with the Maldives and deepen cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, said Premier Li Keqiang on Dec 7.

The Premier made the remarks when meeting with Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in Beijing.

During the meeting, Premier Li highly praised the relationship between China and the Maldives, saying that President Xi Jinping’s successful visit to the Maldives in 2014 lifted the bilateral ties to a comprehensive cooperative partnership.

China supports the Maldives in safeguarding sovereignty and developing its rights and interests, he said.

Premier Li said China has been the biggest source of tourists to the Maldives for seven years in a row, and there is a broad prospect for tourism cooperation.

Chinese citizens are encouraged to choose the Maldives as one of their tourist destinations, which will promote people-to-people exchanges and friendship between the two nations, said the Premier.

The Premier added that China expects more facilitation from the Maldives to Chinese tourists. The two sides could also share experience in tourist development and discuss approaches of cooperation, he said.

China welcomes more results to be reached by the Maldives in dovetailing development strategies of the two countries, and is willing to intensify cooperation in infrastructure construction, civil aviation, trade, oceanic research, and climate change for sustainable and mutually beneficial development, Premier Li said.

Since China and the Maldives established diplomatic relationship 45 years ago, bilateral ties have always remained close, which sets an example for other countries, said Yameen. In recent years bilateral ties and cooperation have witnessed faster development.

He said that the Maldives appreciated China’s supports on its social and economic development and China’s contribution in the campaign against climate change.

The Maldives will further enhance cooperation with China in various fields such as tourism, civil aviation and infrastructural construction and expand people-to-people exchanges based on equality and mutual respects, to further reinforce cooperative partnership, said Yameen.